Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass over the Texans defense during the fourth quarter.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass over the Texans defense during the fourth quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicks a 53-yard field goal during the fourth quarter.

Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicks a 53-yard field goal during the fourth quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks a 53-yard field goal with 3:32 left to play to give the Patriots a 34-31 victory over the Texans.

Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks a 53-yard field goal with 3:32 left to play to give the Patriots a 34-31 victory over the Texans.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Texans quarterback Case Keenum is chased out of the pocket by Patriots defensive tackle Joe Vellano.

Texans quarterback Case Keenum is chased out of the pocket by Patriots defensive tackle Joe Vellano.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans quarterback Case Keenum sits on the field next to tackle Ryan Harris after throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down during the fourth quarter.

Texans quarterback Case Keenum sits on the field next to tackle Ryan Harris after throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down during the fourth quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Harvey: Narrow loss to Patriots not a bad thing for Texans

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Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he doesn’t believe in moral victories, that the team works all week to win. Of course, he feels like that. He’s paid to win, not to lose, especially not to lose 10 consecutive games.

But, objectively, the Texans’ 34-31 loss to New England on Sunday at Reliant Stadium was a good one, perhaps the franchise’s best loss since the one in overtime at San Francisco in the final game of the 2005 regular season. That earned the Texans’ the No. 1 draft choice. With the win, the 49ers dropped to sixth.

This loss doesn’t rank behind–above?–that one because there are still four games remaining. But there are reasons for Texans fans to be happy with this loss.

1. The Texans, now 2-10, lost by only three points to New England, now 9-3, after losing by seven the previous Sunday at home to Jacksonville, considered the NFL’s worst team until winning at Reliant.

2. Case Keenum matched Tom Brady drive for drive in the second half. Almost. But, after the Texans again blew a halftime lead, falling behind in the second half, Keenum led the Texans back to regain the lead not merely once but twice. If he becomes a quarterback in this league, this might be the game people remember for when it happened.

3. Andre Johnson caught the 900th pass of his career, becoming the second fastest player in league history to reach that milestone.

4. Ben Tate scored almost as many touchdowns rushing as he has cracked ribs. He scored three with four bad ribs. Keenum also scored a touchdown rushing. The Texans had scored only two touchdowns rushing all season before Sunday.

5. The Texans were seven-point underdogs and lost by three. It was the first time they had covered the spread at home all season.

6. With Jacksonville’s 32-28 victory over Cleveland, the Texans can be no worse than second in the race for the No. 1 draft choice after 12 weeks. Atlanta also had two wins entering Sunday’s games. Jacksonville now has three wins, going into Thursday night’s all-important game at home against the Texans.